St George’s has become the first hospital in the UK to launch a new secure, easy to use messaging app for staff to exchange confidential patient information and photos.
Created in partnership with Dublin-based tech firm Medxnote, the app allows staff to discuss patient cases at the touch of a button, but in a way that complies with data protection and patient confidentiality guidelines.
St George’s is the first hospital in the UK to launch the app and has seen more than 300 members of staff download and use it since its launch at the beginning of October.
Many staff working in the NHS regularly turn to apps such as Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp to exchange information quickly. However, using these apps to share confidential information about patients is not appropriate.
Medxnote carries the familiar look and feel of WhatsApp and has been tailored to the needs of clinical staff at St George’s. Key features and benefits of the app include individual and group messaging, secure photo messaging as well as being able to quickly communicate about shifts, rotas, teamwork and specific patient cases with colleagues. However, most important of all, it meets NHS data security requirements.
